The Old Scrapbook

by Higgins, Dennis

  Ray stopped dead in his tracks, faced her, pulled her closer and kissed her for the first time. She didn’t tell him, but it was her first kiss ever, and it sent tingles down her spine and into her toes.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Chicago, December, Present Day

  I had a nice date with Megan. We went to see the latest Marvel movie and then decided to go downtown to the Berghoff. I’d only been there once before and I wasn’t sure how or why I got the idea. I figured I must have subconsciously seen an ad.

  I ordered us a couple of mugs of their Winterfest beer.

  “What made you decide to come here?” Megan asked looking around. “I’ve never been here. Nice place.”

  “I’m not sure why I picked this place,” I answered, taking a long drink from my beer. “It is Chicago’s oldest restaurant, and I’ve been into old things lately. Plus, I needed to go out after the week I’ve had. Work’s been a pain and I’ve been having fitful nights lately.”

  “How come?” She asked.

  “I’m not sure. I was never a person who tended to remember my dreams…or even know that I’ve been dreaming. But lately, I’ve been waking up, remembering dreaming, and having strong feelings of the dream, but not actually recalling the details. Has that ever happened to you?”

  “Sure,” she answered. “It’s like you almost know what the dream was about, but you can’t quite make the details come into clarity.”

  “Yeah, that’s it. It’s been happening to me all last week. I get the impression it has something to do with that damn scrapbook.”

  “Have you found out anything more?”

  “Not really,” I replied. “My neighbor gives me his magazine when he’s done reading it. It’s called Reminisce. It’s about people’s memories of the past, I mean the way-back past, like the 40s and 50s. It’s nice. Anyway, it has this section where people can put in ads and pictures of people they are trying to find. It’s sad somehow. They are often looking for old lovers or people that made a difference in their lives. People lost in time. I imagine old people sometimes just want to make that connection, to feel the same way again. I’m sure that’s why they read the magazine to begin with.”

  “I like this side of you, Kenny,” she said.

  I noticed her eyes were looking at me a little dreamily. It made me uncomfortable. “Yeah, well….anyway, so I went on their web site and placed an ad and picture of Ray and Bet. Who knows, maybe someone out there will recognize her.”

  “Or him,” she added. “In case that rumor is true.”

  “I’m starting to think it might be, but I don’t want it to be,” I said.

  ****

  Chicago, December, 1941

  Ray and Bet had been going together for a year and seven months. Ray got odd jobs doing general labor around the city. Bet was still in high school. Frieda was uncomfortably pregnant, and due to give birth in less than a month.

  On Friday, they went out for their usual date night. Ray wanted to see the Maltese Falcon, but Bet made a deal with him. If he took her to see the Disney cartoon, Dumbo, she would agree to go see The Wolfman when it came out the following week. That was the only way Ray would go see a cartoon as a full feature. But she knew he didn’t mind it too much. He was now very good at holding her hand and stealing a smooch now and again in the dark theater.

  Bet was also formulating a plan for Ray’s upcoming combination birthday/Christmas present. She was going to use the money she had saved to purchase him a camera. The best picture she had of him so far was a dime store machine picture of him messing around with a pipe in his mouth. It was time to try and snap some good pictures of each other. Her mom closed the shop early on Sundays, so she thought that would be an ideal time to go window shopping for his camera. Bet and Ray didn’t usually see each other on Sundays, anyhow, since she watched Don in the morning.

  She never got to go, however. As she was putting on her make-up and trying to figure out what to wear, a news item on the radio set changed her plans for the day. She ran to the front room and sat in front of the set to listen. She got a lump in her throat and found it hard to swallow. She telephoned Ray and begged him to come over.

  She paced the front room floor until she saw his car pull up.

  “What is it, Bet? What has you so upset?”

  “The man on the radio said a fleet of Japanese planes attacked and bombed our naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.”

  “Wait, Japan attacked us on U.S. soil? That’s terrible. But why are you so affected by it?”

  “Darling, don’t you know what this means. It means the United States will join the war efforts overseas. Men will be drafted and many people will die. It’s horrible.”

  Bet could see on Ray’s face that he didn’t know what to say. He had never seen her this way before. She had always put on a smile and stayed positive, no matter what came her way. She just needed him right then.

  Ray put his arms around her and it gave her a comforting feeling. She didn’t say it out loud, but in the back of her mind, she knew Ray was of prime draft age. The thought scared her. Life as she knew it would never be the same for her, nor for all Americans.

  ****

  In the days that followed, everyone was abuzz about the attacks on Pearl Harbor, especially after President Roosevelt’s speech on Monday. Bet had huddled around the family radio with her mom and brother, Don, who was somewhat oblivious to the distress the adults were in. The president had affirmed December 7th, 1941, as a date which would live in infamy. He then declared war on Japan. Three days later, he would declare war on Germany and the United States would be fully immersed in World War II. Men flocked by the hundreds to recruiting stations across the nation.

  Bet didn’t hear from Ray until the following Friday for their next date night. He was happy to see her, but seemed a bit distant with a faraway look in his eyes. He didn’t feel like seeing a movie show that night. He wanted to take a walk with Bet before getting something to eat.

  “Penny for your thoughts,” she said to him as they walked down Fairfield Avenue.

  “I dunno, Bet. This war has me all mixed up.”

  She snuggled into his arm. “Talk to me, Ray.”

  “My brother, Vern, went down to the recruiting office and enlisted as soon as he heard the news. I’ve been thinking I should do the same thing, but I just got a job down at the meat packing yards and they want me to stay on a bit.”

  “You got a job at the Union Stockyard?” she asked. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I was going to,” he answered. “Good golly! This war has me all tied up in knots. What should I do, Bet?”

  Bet sighed deeply. “I want to scream and tell you not to go, but it’s not my way. My real answer is for you to follow your heart, kiddo. But I really don’t want you to go. Listen hon, Christmas and your birthday is coming up. Don’t do anything before then. What do you say?”

  He turned and smiled at her. “Deal,” he replied.

  Bet could see he just needed someone to say something to him. Putting a time limit on his decision gave him a few weeks to relax and think about things.

  “I’m hungry, let’s go eat,” he said, looking more like his old self. “So let me ask you something. Do I get two gifts on the 25th and what will they be?”

  “You get my undivided love,” she said.

  He stopped dead in his tracks. “You love me, Bet?”

  “What do you think, silly?”

  “Gosh, you never said it before,” he said, reverting back to his shy persona.

  She just looked up at him coyly as they continued walking.

  “So…” he continued, “that’s one, what will the other gift be?”

  “I might let you steal another kiss,” she said.

  “Hell, that won’t count. I might do that right now.” He started to go for it but she turned her head and ran forward a few feet.

  “Not until you get that mouth washed out with soap,” she said. “You know I would rather you di
dn’t curse around me.”

  “Sorry, I forgot.”

  “Plus, I was kidding, I don’t like thieves,” she said. “If you want a kiss, I will give it of my own free will.”

  She stopped walking and stood in front of him with her hands on her hips, smiling sweetly. “Well, aren’t you going to kiss me? What are you waiting for, Mister Raymond Speck?”

  At this, he grabbed and kissed her, making her knees want to buckle. She was a little sad he hadn’t expressed his love to her verbally, but she would not bring it up.

  ****

  December 25th, 1941

  Christmas was spent at James and Harriet’s house that year. Frieda didn’t have the time to get a proper tree with the holiday rush at the salon.

  Aunt Harriet made sure she got a Frasier Fir, reminiscent of the old Tannenbaum she and Frieda had as children. She decorated it with delicate glass ornaments, big colorful lights, and fresh baked cookies. Donald especially loved searching for the wreath shaped cookies to eat, but Bet also joined in the tradition while holding Joanna up to see the wonders of the tree.

  Bet knew that Ray was glad to be with his brother. This was the one time he missed being home in West Virginia, along with all his siblings. He also missed his mom and dad. Last year he had gone back home, so he was very happy to be with Bet for their first real Christmas together.

  Bet walked up to him and placed Joanna on his lap. “Happy birthday, here you go.” She smiled and walked into the adjacent dining room to set the table. Bet knew it was okay, Ray loved children. She believed he would make a great daddy one day.

  “What do you got there, Raymond?” asked James. “Hey, you wanna beer?”

  “Sure,” Ray said as he watched the wonders reflected in the four year old’s eyes.

  “I’ll get it,” called Bet.

  “Could you bring me one, too, there, little darlin’?” asked James.

  “Sure, Uncle, would you like a glass?” she asked.

  “Naw, just bring me a bottle of Schlitz,” James replied.

  “I’ll take a glass,” said Ray. “Do you need any help in there?”

  “You just go on and sit, birthday boy,” Bet said.

  As she brought the beers in, she heard James talking to Ray.

  “So, what do you think about Vernon going and enlisting?”

  Before Ray could answer, Frieda interrupted. “He’s going to go and get himself killed. Raymond, I hope you don’t have any such notions.”

  “Well, I…” Ray started.

  “I think you should stay right here in Chicago,” she continued.

  “Mom!” Bet gave her mother a stern look.

  “I’m just saying,” Frieda responded.

  “It’s not an easy decision to make,” Ray said. “Our country was attacked and Hitler is trying to take over the world.”

  “Don’t you think I know that?” said Frieda. “Why do you think Otto, Harriet and I left Germany and came here? Some people love him. He can move crowds with his speeches, but others saw him as a madman. He’s gotten worse.”

  “I mean no disrespect,” said Ray, “but someone has to stop him and protect our nation. Don’t you agree?”

  “Je, I agree,” Frieda replied. “But it shouldn’t be you. You stay here and court my Betty and take care of us.”

  “Ah,” Ray said, nodding his head. “We’ll see.”

  Bet smiled at Ray.

  “Frieda,” James started. “You look like you could drop that baby out today.”

  “It feels like it, too,” Frieda replied.

  Harriet made a Black Forest ham and roasted potatoes. Bet loved both her mom’s and her Aunt Harriet’s cooking ability. She hoped to one day be a great cook like them, so she watched everything they did in the kitchen.

  Bet couldn’t wait for present opening time. She so hoped Ray would like his gift. They let Joanna open her gifts first. She got new dresses and some children’s books which included, The Three Little Kittens, Little red Riding Hood, and ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas with a brightly colored Santa Claus on the front cover.

  Donald got new shirts and pants, but was not very interested in the boxes he knew had clothes in them. He saved a small box until last. In it, was a brand new Ingersoll Mickey Mouse watch. He immediately wound it, set the time, and put it on.

  It was finally Ray’s turn and Betty almost jumped out of her seat cushion on the couch, waiting for him to open it. When Ray realized this, he took his time, undoing the tape and corners as slowly as he possibly could. Bet and Donald groaned with each painfully slow peel of the paper. James laughed.

  But when Ray finally had the box opened, he was visibly touched by the content. In his hands he held a box containing a Kine Exakta camera.

  “Bet, this is too much…now I’ll have to return the present I bought and get you something else.”

  “Nonsense,” Bet replied. “Mom helped me buy it. Naturally she made sure we got a German-made camera.”

  “They’re the best,” Frieda interrupted. Then she pointed at Ray. “Now you be sure to make lots of pictures of my Betty.”

  “I will, I promise,” said Ray. “Thank you both, so much.”

  As the night wore on, more presents were exchanged. Ray got Frieda a cameo broach. She thanked him politely, but it was difficult to tell if she liked it or not.

  He got Bet a necklace with matching earrings and a bottle of Evening in Paris perfume. Ray knew nothing about perfumes, but had liked the cobalt blue bottle.

  Ray spent the rest of the evening playing with his camera. It came with one flash bulb and a roll of film. He showed Bet how to hold it at waist level and look down through the view-finder. You snap the picture with the lever in the front with your left thumb. Bet was pleased at how much he liked his gift. Later that night, she would make good on her promise for a nice good-night kiss.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Chicago, Present Day

  It had been awhile since I put all my mom’s pictures in the photo albums Megan had bought for me. One of the last ones I found was an official army picture of Ray. On the back was written: Your brother, taken 4/28/44. It looked like it had come out of a frame. I didn’t know the origin of this photo. Did Bet write on it and send it to Vern and that’s how my mom got it? Maybe. Vern and my mom stayed close until he died back in ’93. Mom remained friends with his second wife, Sheila. That’s how she ended up with the scrapbook. It was my guess that Bet gave the book to Vern after reports of Ray’s death surfaced. Vern kept it all his life and then Sheila gave it to my mom after Vern’s death. I thought about calling Sheila, but I never did.

  I was still seeing Megan. I guess we were in a full blown relationship, since I wasn’t seeing anyone else. I recall thinking we were lasting longer than most of the women I had dated. Maybe it helped that I waited so long to even make out with her. All I can say is, she was a patient woman. In fact, the first time our goodnight kiss had any real passion was after an office Christmas party. We had taken a taxi home and I kissed her in the back seat. I was sorry I waited so long because, WOW…could that girl kiss. Her blue eyes took on that dreamy look again afterwards, like a person falling in love. I wasn’t sure I wanted that in my life just then, but I let the cards fall where they would.

  So life sort of went on. I still thought about my mom, but not nearly as often as the first year after her death. I also continued to think about Bet and Ray once in a while, but the scrapbook had been neatly tucked away in a hall closet. That is until one day when Megan came over wanting to see it.

  “What’s up?” I asked her.

  “Check out this picture I took,” she said holding her phone up for me to see.

  “Yeah, what is it?” I asked looking at a blurred picture of an old boarded up building. It appeared to be an old bar with a Hispanic name. It had a for sale sign on it.

  “I think this place is in the scrapbook,” she replied.

  “Huh?”

  “Just get it out, sweetie,” she said. When s
he called me sweetie in the tone of voice she used, it wasn’t for affection.

  She paged through the old scrapbook and stopped on a page to study. She looked back and forth between the image on her phone and the picture in the book.

  “I really believe it’s the same place,” she continued. “Look.”

  I saw what she was looking at. Bet and Ray took a lot of photos in front of a business called the Fairfield Beauty Salon. Her picture had the same ornate doorway as in the scrapbook photo, but it was hard to tell. It even looked like the address number of 2712 was the same.